Almost 80 per cent of foreign nationals who received a PPS number in 2008 had no employment at any time in 2013.
Central Statistic Office (CSO) figures released on Tuesday showed just over one fifth (25,904) of the foreign nationals aged 15 and over who were assigned numbers in 2008 had employment "activity" during 2013.
The term “activity” in the analysis means any PAYE employment, including seasonal work, or engagement with the social welfare system.
The latest statistics revealed a trend of decreasing employment for the 127,048 who received PPS numbers in 2008, with the number down 6 per cent on 2012 (27,575 with work) and 15 per cent on 2011 (30,302 with work).
For the 2008 group, social welfare activity was at 22,573 (17.8 per cent) in 2013, up 266 on the 2012 figure.
The CSO cited several reasons for the increase in social welfare activity including the birth of a child and jobseekers claims.
The figures are based on records from the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection compiled between 2008 and 2013.
The amount of PPS numbers allocated annually to foreign nationals fell steadily from 127,048 in 2008 to 58,258 in 2011 before rising to 75,812 in 2013.
Some 38 per cent of the 75,812 foreign nationals assigned PPS numbers in 2013 found employment that year.
The UK had the highest number of PPS allocations in 2013 at 13,167; Poland came next at 9,235; followed by Romania at 7,710; and Brazil at 6,250.
A total of 320,246 foreign nationals who were given PPS numbers during the period 2002-2013 had some type of employment in Ireland during 2013.
The vast majority were employed across four sectors: accommodation and food services; retail trade and repair of motor vehicles; administrative and support services; and manufacturing.
The full report can be viewed here.
